Newsletters

CLECAT has submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s targeted consultation on the evaluation of Regulation (EU) No 598/2014, on the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports under the Balanced Approach framework. CLECAT underlines that air freight is a strategic pillar of the European economy. It enables the rapid movement of high-value and time-sensitive goods and plays a vital role in supporting supply-chain resilience, industrial competitiveness and Europe’s global connectivity.

Unlike passenger aviation, air cargo operations depend heavily on evening, night-time and early-morning slots to meet strict delivery timelines and maintain hub connectivity. Measures applied uniformly across aviation segments risk generating disproportionate impacts on air cargo, even where noise performance is comparable.

CLECAT stresses that operating restrictions must remain measures of last resort, introduced only after a robust, transparent and evidence-based assessment of alternative noise mitigation measures under all pillars of the Balanced Approach. Where restrictions focus primarily on evening and night operations, there is a concrete risk of undermining logistics reliability, weakening European hubs and diverting traffic to non-EU airports, with adverse consequences for competitiveness and supply-chain resilience.

The experience at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport illustrates the importance of strict adherence to both the procedural and substantive requirements of the Regulation. CLECAT notes that the Commission’s March 2025 decision identified shortcomings in the assessment of fleet modernisation benefits and alternative operational measures, as well as inconsistencies in the scope of proposed restrictions that would have disproportionately affected the cargo sector.

Implementation experiences across Member States show that land-use planning and insulation programmes remain uneven and, in some cases, under-resourced. The effectiveness of the Regulation depends on proper zoning, adequate insulation and the systematic prioritisation of noise reduction at source and operational measures before considering flight movement restrictions.

Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT noted: ‘the Commission’s evaluation offers an important opportunity to reinforce legal certainty, consistency and proportionality in the application of the Balanced Approach. Clearer guidance to Member States and competent authorities would enhance coherence and predictability, while ensuring that environmental objectives are achieved without compromising Europe’s connectivity, supply-chain resilience and global competitiveness.’

The full feedback paper can be accessed here.